JULY. 1879.]

AT Hornsey resides, in a sweet pretty home,
No better you'll find wheresoe'r you may roam.
At the foot of the Muswell Hill slope,
Canon Harvey: by many so loved and respected.
That e'en in their prayers he is never neglected,
The same as the Queen, Prince, or Pope.

For a more earnest curè in vain you might search,
Fifty years he's been Rector of Hornsey old Church;
And rectors are n't bad as a rule:

But so good, kind, and true, and so much loved is he
In his parish, or near it-where'er he may be-
From the Elders to children at school.

Fifty years is long service; so some zealous friends
Have suggested by way of substantial amends
To give him a Salver and Gold;

From that list of subscribers I sha'n't stand aloof-
(Like printers I'm always the first to give "proof.")
I've been asked; therefore, don't think me bold.

If the good Canon Harvey's old heart it would cheer. To prove by such means, as a pastor he's dear.

Let all give with unsparing hand!

But I don't think it would; and 'twixt you and I--
He's had a good living-and must have "put-by:"
Ee'n his daughter has Trott(er)ed off hand.
It's our good neighbour Flowers, the for-giving J.l'.,
(He's always for "giving" wherever he be

In a Police Court or green Tottenham lane.)
He knows the good Canon would think it no treat,
Or he'd give him a month, at the Court in Bow-street,
Though I'm sure that he'd ne'er give him pain.
Mr. Flowers the kind-hearted, he gives all he can
At Bow-street, he'll give to a very bad man.
And double a rogue would desire!
Then no wonder when a good rector like ours.
Who lives in the parish along with the flowers,
Is given what he does not require.

But if the good Rector's parishioners wish
To give him a purse, with some gold, and a dish.
Let all be respectful and jolly;

"What we give to the poor is but lent to the Lord."
To the poor let us give then all we can afford,
To give to the rich is a folly.

A FRAGMENT.

The following touching lines, engraved upon a broken heart-string, evidently with the cuneiform end of a saveloy. were left at our door in a periwinkle shell on the 1st of next April:

When the monolith nods in its lair.

When the butterfly chirps to the drone,
When Asbestos has buried his care.

'Neath the oval Phylactery's stone,

Oh then wreathe the Daffodil's song.
Round the Walrus's pale dappled brow,
While whispering whortles all throng,
To the honey-pecked juniper bough!
And if the weird Plethora's mate,

Should creep to the Cacaphone's niece;
Then tortuous woodbines are straight,

And the dawn of the Dodo is peace!
Opodeldoc is melting to curd,

And far on the Caspian Sea,
The pale crescent-moon may be heard,
In her hundred-and-third apogee.

THE SAVAGE CLUB.

We quote the following from the Times of June 16th:"At the Pall Mall Restaurant. on Saturday last, the members of this club assembled in large numbers at their annual dinner, to which many guests of distinction in various branches of art had been invited. The Earl of Dunraven presided, and among those present were Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., M. Edmond About, M. Got. Mr. Frith, R.A., Mr. Horsley, R,A., Professor Armitage. R.A., Mr. Theodore Martin, C.B., Monsignor Capel, Sir Patrick O'Brien, M.P., Mr. A. M. Sullivan, M.P., Mr. F. Locker, Mr. W. Black; MM. Delaunay, Mounet-Sully, and Barré, Sociétaires of the Comédie Française; Mr. Hubert Herkomer. Mr. H. J. Byron, Mr. Harrison Weir, Mr. C. Dickens, Mr. J. S. Forbes, and Mr. Walter Pelham Taunton, hon. sec. In the intervals between the speeches several members of the club entertained the guests with some admirable songs, recitations, and formances on various musical instruments.

per

MISSICAL
DRAMATIC

GOSSIP

HE chief event of the past month in the theatrical world has been the arrival of the members of the Comédie Francaise at the Gaiety Theatre. When this company visited England a few years ago they met with anything but success, but their present visit has been, we think, thoroughly satisfactory. About the year 1820, a company of French comedians gave, for several successive seasons, representations of French plays in London at a small, and then but little known, theatre since called the Prince of Wales's. All the chief plays in the repertoire of the Comédie Française have been placed upon the Gaiety stage. The series will conclude on the 13th of July.

The "Crisis" was revived at the Haymarket in the beginning of the month with nearly the original caste. It was withdrawn in favour of "Brag," which is the new title of Mr. Will's altered and amended play of "Ellen." This play, as will be remembered, when first produced was a great failure. When revised it proved even less successful, and after a run of a few nights the programme was again changed. Mr. Dion Boucicaults drama in four acts, entitled the "Life of an Actress," was then produced. This gave Mr. Anson an opportunity of playing "Gramaldi," which character he has essayed frequently in the provinces. His acting throughout the drama showed great ability and perfect knowledge of the French language. Mr. F. H. Macklin played well as "Lord Arthur Shafton." Messrs. Howe, Crouch and Fisher, jun., also Messrs. Emily Fowler, Blanche Henri and others appeared in the drama. The programme also contained a musical whimsicality by Messrs. R. Reece and J. F. McArdle entitled, "The Marionettes." Mr. Anson again appeared in this with great finish and humour. The season came to a close at the Haymarket last Tuesday, when Mr. Charles Kelly took his benefit, Tom Taylor's comedy of "New Men and Old Acres" being performed.

At the Lyceum, Mr. Irving, undoubtedly prompted by the varied programme of the Comédie Française, has produced six pieces from his repertoire-" Hamlet," "The Lady of Lyons," "Eugene Aram," "Richelien," "Louis XI," and Charles I. have been performed. This new venture has proved most successful, and the programme will be continued during July; The Bells," and "The Lyons Mail" being added to the list. Mr. Irving takes his annual benefit on the 25th and 26th, when the present season will terminate.

Mr. Halliday's "Amy Robsart," has been revived at the Adelphi and has proved an immense success, nothing being spared in the mounting and dressing of the play. Miss Neilson took her original character of "Amy," in which she appeared to great advantage. Messrs. Neville, Vezin, and Mr. and Mrs. Pateman also appeared in the caste. The brilliant scene representing Kenilworth, together with the rich dresses, were much and deservedly admired.

The Opéra Comique by Offenbach, entitled "Madame Favart," has proved to be very successful at the Strand. Miss Florence St. John plays the part of Madame Favart with great taste, and her singing in the principal songs is always received with great applause. M. Marins plays with his customary skill in the character of Charles Favart Other characters are taken by Messrs. Ashley, Fisher, and Harry Cox. Miss Violet Cameron appears in a small part, and sings with great taste.

"Crutch and Toothpick" is drawing large houses at the Royalty. It is an adaption from the French, by Mr. George R. Sims. The acting throughout the comedy is good. A new burlesque, entitled "Venus," by E. Rose and A. Harris, was produced on the 27th ult.

We are told that one of Mr. Irving's female admirers petitioned for the chain which he had worn as Hamlet for a hundred nights. She sent him another in exchange, which is also to pass to a devotee, after a hundred more nights. Another lady leaves a bouquet morning by morning at his door!

At the Olympic, "The Mother," after a short time, has been withdrawn to make way for "East Lynne," Miss Heath playing the Lady Isabel Carlyle; this character she has taken for upwards of fifteen-hundred times in the Provinces.

A large array of beauty will attract the "Crutch and Toothpick" school to the Royalty Theatre, when "Venus rises from the scene. Venus, Miss Bromley; Adonis, Miss Alma Stanley; Juno, Miss Edith Blande; and Cupid, Miss Kate Lawler. Mr. Horatio Saker will play Vulcan.

66

On Whit Monday a sensational Drama written by Charles Reade, entitled Drink," was produced at the Princess's. This is an adaption of the French play of "L'Assommoir" which has been running for a considerable time at the Théatre de Ambigu, Paris. Mr. Reade has altered the ending and made it less repulsive than it was in the original. In "Drink" the Hero dies from delirium tremens, and in "L'Assommoir" the wife also died from the same cause. The hero of the play, "Coupeau," is rendered by Mr. Charles Warner, and in this part heperforms with wonderful power. Whatever may be the opinion as to the advisability of producing upon the stage such a spectacle as that of a man dying from delirium tremens, there can be no question as to the great force of Mr. Warner's splendid performance. He has, by his acting in the character, placed himself in the first ranks of our melodramatic actors, and his performance alone is well worthy of a visit to the Princess's. Miss Amy Roselle plays "Gervaise" with great intelligence and power. Mr. William Rignold played "Gouget" well, as also did Miss Fanny Leslie the part of Phoebe Saye. The piece is splendidly mounted, and will undoubtedly attract large audiences for some time to come.

Mr. Sala presided at the Artists' Benevolent Fund anniversary dinner, at the Freemason's Tavern. About 200 ladies and gentlemen were present. In proposing the toast of the evening Mr. Sala said, in the course of a really brilliant speech, "I must needs address to you a few words of a business-like character, in order that I may not be accused, whilst begging, of seeking to obtain money under false pretences. Nay, more, I will justify my plea by telling you that the Artists' Benevolent Fund was established in 1810; that in 1822 the Society received a charter of incorporation from King George IV., who was always a munificent supporter of, and benefactor to, the Fine Arts; and that its patron for many years has been, and still is, her Majesty the Queen. The Society is divided into two distinct and independent sections. The first is the Artists' Annuity Fund-a provident self-supporting organisation, to which professors of the Fine Arts-be they painters, sculptors, engravers, or draughtsmen-are admitted after due enquiry. They are entitled at certain periods, and under certain conditions, to participate in the benefits of the Fund-that is to say, to receive annuities in their declining years, calculated on an accurate and equitable scale. The second section of the Fund is designed to extend assistance to widows and orphans of meritorious distressed Artists. It is, therefore, a pure and simple charity, and it is for this charity that I now plead with all the strength of which I am capable." An eloquent review of the Art work of all ages followed, and the Secretary during the evening annouuced legacies and donations to the amount of £1,700. The dinner was, thanks to Mr Sala, a triumphant success.

Miss Bulmer may be congratulated upon her successful reopening of the Garrick Theatre in Leman Street, Whitechapel, upon so new a scale.

"Romeo and Juliet" is to be given at the Adelphi Theatre for Miss Neilson's farewell performances.

Mr. Hermann Vezin will shortly take a benefit at the Adelphi Theatre, on which occasion he will appear as Cardinal Richelieu in Lord Lytton's famous play.

Mr. Hare and Mr. Kendal have purchased the copyright of the new Parisian success "L'Etincelle." The comedietta will be performed at the Saint James's Theatre in the autumn.

Mr. D'Oyly Carte has sailed for New York to arrange for the visit of Messrs. Sullivan, Gilbert, Collier, and "H.M.S. Pinafore" Company in the autumn.

Mdlle. Rosine Bloch's performance in "Le Prophete" was one of the best that has been seen upon our lyric stage.

Mr. Henry Leslie will, by especial desire of the Prince and Princess of Wales, give an extra concert at Saint James's Hall on the 7th.

At the State Concert Madame Adelina Patti and Signor Nicolini did sing after all.

Madame Sinico is recovering from her serious illness. On Mondays the Daily News is now made specially to the theatrical world by Mr. Moy Thomas's clever feuilleton. The Swanborough benefit realised the handsome sum of £600.

Mr. Coleman's benefit at the Olympic was a great

H.R.H. Prince Leopold has purchased Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt's large picture, The Spanish Girl selling the Palm Branches." A contemporary asks, "How soon would an English actress be so honoured?"

A highly interesting presentation was made to Miss Litton on Wednesday last upon the occasion of the centenaire of Nolly Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer." Mrs. Stirling stepped forward and offered a beautiful silver flower vase, at the same time delivering an appropriate speech. A beautiful fan was aslo presented by Messrs. Pitt, Selby, Leigh and Gilbert, and Mr. Edgar and Mr. Alport offered a beautiful Japanese teapot. Miss Litton made a charming little speech.

The Crichton Club-one of the clubiest in London, and numbering something like eight hundred members-intend giving a testimonial benefit at St. George's Hall, on the 10th inst., to Mr. E. J. Benbrook, a clever and witty young actor. Tickets may be had of Mr. R. J. Blyth, at the Club, Adelphi Terrace. Mr. Benbrook is an actor who ought to be discovered. Managers "please copy."

The dinner at the Royal General Theatrical Fund, at the Freemason's Tavern, on Thursday last, was a success, for Mr. David James took the chair, and the popular actor had a host of friends round him. Mr. James can look back upon a long line of illustrious predecessors, whose speeches, more or less characteristic, are preserved almost verbatim in the little books comprising reports and accounts which have been issued from time to time by the directors of the Fund.

A suburban choral society gave a concert at St. James's Hall, Piccadilly, a few days ago, and many notabilities were present. In the centre of that vast hall sat the Poet Laureate (at least so thought some busy knowing one, and he called attention to his discovery). Vocalists left the ante room, the programme was delayed, so that a peep of the great Alfred might be obtained. One poeticminded lady on the platform was gazing steadily, so she thought, on the adored builder of verse, instead of taking up her crochets and quavers at the proper moment. Consequently she was a bar, at least, behind (her occupation was, strange to say, behind a bar); but though all the other vocalists had left the stage she stood there alone, "like patience on a monument, smiling at" the divine Alfred, and so whispers became loud, and matters became momentarily muddled. After all this to-do, it turns out that the figure with unkempt beard, flowing locks, and unfitting collar, was only the musical critic of a daily paper.

Mr. Sothern has been received with enthusiasm upon his return to America. He will not appear professionally , before autumn.

Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt, who is an admirable Crichton, has brought over her pictures and sculpture, and at a private view of her works, at No. 33, Piccadilly, many notable people were present, including Lords Wilton and Houghton, Mr. Gladstone, Sir F. Leighton, and Mr. Millais, and they all seemed delighted with Mdlle. Bernhardt's elegance and affability.

The following lines were picked up in the Gaiety stalls after the performance of Hernani the other night :She's thin, but oh, how scrumptious is this fascinating Sarah,

She's a convoluted charmer that one can't too much

extol ;

The stage has no one like her, she's indeed an avis rara, And who would'nt be Hernani to so sweet a Dona Sol? A gentleman who was present at the déjeuner given by the Lord Mayor to the members of the Comédie Francaise, informs us that Sarah la Prodigieuse," as M. Sarcey sneeringly calls her, conducted herself in rather too lively a fashion on the occasion. He says that she "cascaded" about and sneered at everything; and, indeed, the déjeuner does not appear to have impressed the visitors, who would no doubt expect great things from our "Lord Maire," and were proportionately disappointed.

Mr. Mapleson is so disgusted with the present condition of matters that he will finish off his grand season on the 12th inst., thanks in a great measure to the entrepreneur of the Comédie Francaise.

Miss Ada Cavendish, who has at last found her home at Wallack's, the American Haymarket, will shortly appear Miss Gwilt."

there in

Mr. Hare, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, will make a short tour during part of August and September. The St. James's Theatre will be opened before the middle of October, when "The Queen's Shilling," by Mr. W. G. Godfrey, will be performed.

The Beatrice-Harvey Company are appearing at the Standard Theatre in "The Woman of the People."

At Mr. and Mrs. German Reed's entertainment on Wednesday last a New Second Part was produced, entitled "Back from India," written by H. P. Stephens, music by Cotsford Dick, and a new musical sketch by Mr. Corney Grain, entitled "Rotten Row."

His

The death of Mr. Charles Calvert is announced. name is associated with the Shakspearian revivals at the Prince's Theatre, Manchester, during his management. Amongst the chief productions were "The Merchant of Venice," "Antony and Cleopatra," "Richard III.," and "Macbeth," in each of which Mr. Calvert personated the chief character.

Mr. Collette has been starring most successfully in "Love Wins" at the Standard during this week. He played the principal character, Professor Lobelia, with much power, and was ably seconded by his wife, Miss Blanche Wilton, who acted charmingly.

At the Olympic Miss Heath is appearing as Lady Isabel in East Lynne," a character she has made popular in London and the provinces.

Mr. Wills's drama of "Brag" has enjoyed no longer lease of life than its predecessor "Ellen," from which many of the incidents and characters were taken. It has been succeeded at the Haymarket by the "Life of an Actress," a drama of Mr. Dion Boucicault, originally produced at the Adelphi.

The Duke of Beaufort, Sir John Reid, Mr. Sothern, the actor, and Mr. Florence, also an actor, arrived in Montreal a short time ago, and after staying there for a day or two left for Quebec, where they have chartered one of Sir Hugh Allen's steamers to take them to the fishing grounds on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where Mr. Sothern has rented the Natashquan River for the purpose of salmon-fishing, and where he and his friends intend to spend a few weeks away from the rest of the world and civilization. Mr. Sothern will then leave for New York to commence his engagement there in September next, and the Duke of Beaufort will return to England.

Long gloves of silk or Lisle thread are woven exactly like stockings. and are taking the place of the mitten, which, in black, is a most unbecoming covering to the hand. So few fingers look pretty protruding from a mitten; thin ones seem supernaturally bony, and fat ones resemble sausages.

Almost all the new dresses are made rather lower, and more open at the neck, therefore guimpes, and fichus of lace, crêpe, tulle, blonde, soft Indian, and other thin muslins are much in request. The forms of these fichus are very varied: the most fashionable at the present moment being the scarf shape with broad ends, and the Marie Antoinette fichu. If a flower is worn with these fichus, it is generally a single rose at the left side of the neck. A great many eccentric costumes were to be seen last week at the races, and at the flower show, among them being a coat of mail worn as a casaquin, and a conspicuous Parabere dress, with five paniers covered with Malines lace. The costumes most in vogue for the country are composed of plain batiste, printed linen, calico, and foulard, the patterns being either the Pampadour detached

renown appeared the other night in a tight-fitting black dress high to the throat, and unrelieved by a morsel of white next the skin. The effect was very unpleasant; the completion lost colour; the golden-brown hair looked grey even the big diamonds in the ears shone less brilliantly than such gems should do. Beauty that is on the verge of fading should never be trifled with; and unrelieved, dead black is a degree beyond trifling.

A girl who was simply nice-looking and had no claim to be styled a beauty came near to be considered a formidable rival to the beauty aforesaid, from the becoming character of her clothing. Her dress was also high, black and tight to the throat; but, round her neck she wore a thick close frill of soft white tulle, below which were a few strings of scarlet coral beads. A little turban of silk of the same bright shade was twisted round her dark hair and bracelets of coral were on her arms.

Gloves, shoes, stockings, and all the little et ceteras of a costume must match, nowadays. Fashionable people do not attempt harmony in colour, they insist on a match or rather many matches. Happily this requires no thought, and when the modiste fails to supply all the smaller arrangements, it is only necessary to send a pattern of colour to a big emporium and everything needful will be procured or made forthwith. CELIA in the Court Circular.

and striped bareges, Voile de veuve, plain cashmere, and, for more elegant visiting dresses, changeant, or shot silk; grenadine and velours Zéphir are the most admired. This Zéphir is a silk gauze with narrow velvet stripes, and is chiefly employed for a tunic, fourreau or polonaise over black or dark-coloured dresses; for instance, over a skirt of violet faille or satin, a tunic of Zephir with paniers, or a dress of black striped Zéphir with pointed bodice opening over a high waistcoat of lotus blue. Walking or country dresses are made with short round skirts; the foulard is often composed of half plain ground and half printed foulard; for instance, the first skirt plain silvergray with two flounces, one of which is plain, the other of the Pompadour pattern on same gray ground; the second skirt plain, draped up slightly over the first, with an apron front of Pompadour pattern; tunic of the same pattern, drawn up at the sides, panier style, and forming a slight half-train behind, with border of Breton lace; and bodice of Pompadour pattern, cuirass shape, with plain broad turned-back collar, also bordered with lace.

It is absurd to see how some English milliners fail to recognise the fact that certain shapes in French bonnets and hats are inadmissible for an insular headdress, owing to the different style of hair arrangement, and also that some of the English shapes of to-day cannot be worn by Frenchwomen for a similar reason. I saw some big English straws in a shop window lately, labelled latest from Paris," the fact being that the shape referred to had never been received in Paris, nor was it likely to be so.. The advertisement thus displayed may be accounted for by the fact that uninitiated purchasers still cherish the idea that the headdresses they select bear the French cachet and must consequently be unimpeachable.

The most charming specimen of purely English attire that I have seen for some time was worn recently by a young girl. The costume was hardly fitted for town wear according to the notions of some strict persons, but it seemed to me the perfection of fitness. The material was very fine creamy serge, made in the primitive fish-wife style; the revers edged with black braid, which also outlined the sailor's collar and wide cuffs. A sailor's hat of creamy straw with a bit of black riband round it completed the costume.

Women past their first youth make a great mistake in adopting a severe style of dress unless it harmonises perfectly with their appearance. A lady of beauty and

the lady known to the present generation as Mrs. Howard Paul delighted our forefathers by her arch vivacity. infectious gaiety, and the fresh melody of her rich voice in the rôle of Captain Macheath in The Beggar's Opera." Who has not been enlivened, cheered, recuperated by Mrs. Howard Paul's versatile impersonations in the entertainments which she for many years gave. in conjunction with Mr. Howard Paul, all over the United Kingdom? Mimicry was second nature with this accomplished artiste. There were a finish and a naturalness in her varied assumptions quite equal to anything of the same kind to be seen on the much-vaunted French stage.

Mrs. Howard Paul may not have possessed the mellow humour which has won for Mrs. German Reed such troops of friends at St. George's Hall, but she was dowered in a remarkable degree with that rare quality which the French tersely call chic. If you had the blue devils-and who has not sometimes?-they were unfailingly chased away by a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul's entertainment.

Save that she first appeared on the stage in her youth, and returned to it lately to play in "Babil and Bijou" at Covent Garden, and in "The Sorcerer" at the Opéra Comique, Mrs. Howard Paul's career was mostly passed in those halls of light and cheery recreation which yield amusement to the large class who will laugh at a Protean Diversion, but would be shocked to enter a theatre to see a drama. Her name will be cherished none the less dearly for this. Recently Mrs. Howard Paul had for coadjutor that born humourist, Mr. Walter Pelham, the genial Secretary of the Savage Club; and numbers of our readers, in various parts of the Kingdom, will treasure as among their most pleasurable recollections the admirable delincations of Mrs. Howard Paul and Mr. Pelham.

Mr. Howard Paul (who seems as successful in battling against Time as he was in boxing against Tom Sayers some twenty years ago: and probably for the same reasoni.e., that the Scythe-bearer forgets in his case to use his scythe) is still to the fore with the mirth-moving entertainment associated with his name. Long may he live to excite harmless langhter! But the death of Mrs. Howard Paul has occasioned such wide-spread regret that the above notice cannot but be accepted in many homes as a welcome souvenir of a talented and kind-hearted lady.-THE PLAYGOER in The Penny Illustrated Paper.

THE LOST GRAVE.

BY WALTER PELHAM.

"HOLD hard! never say the fault is all mine-
I'm somethin' to blame, and I own it;
But don't be down on me cause now and again
I've taken too much and have shown it.
Folks are on'y too ready to boast what they done
If they'd had their chances like me;
But what do they know of my troubles indoors
When I've been druv out on the spree?

"Bill, open your heart, lad, and listen awhile,
And then call it a spree' if you choose,

For a man to be drinkin' from mornin' till night.
An' next day to be down with the blues!
It's nigh three months since, one Saturday morn,
I was up at the crow of the cock,

An' I walked on for miles thro' the rain and the slush,
To the market afore five o'clock.

"I'd been out on the Friday, 'twas snowin' like mad.
An' what with the traffic an' carts,

On a day like it was, the streets I trudged thro
Was up to your knees, Bill, in parts.

An' fish was too dear for my customers-see?
An' my own bit o' money was small;

I'd a middling' good show, but lor' bless you, Bill,
On the truck it looked nothin' at all.

"Leastways for the coin I'd laid out on it, Bill,
But I pushes the barrow along;

I'd a cup and a slice at the old woman's stall,-
The wind-it blowed terrible strong!

A piercing, a searchin', a through-and-through wind.
Such as freezes the snow as it falls,

An' it drove through the feathers that shook in the air,
The sound o' the hour by St. Paul's.

"There was few in the streets, barrin' tradesmen like me, An' the cabs an' the drownded police;

I was down in the mouth, Bill, and dreadfully dull,
So I had half-a-go at the Fleece.

It warmed me all thro' an' it brightened me up

For a time, and I thought of her name;

I cried with a will the fish I'd to sell,

But I cried in my heart all the same.

"Little Nance, as I'd left, Bill, a fadin' away

On my old tatter'd coat for a bed ;

An' I thought of that day, just three years afore,
When they told me her mother was dead!

Nance wasn't my child,-that's she wasn't my own,-
But her mother, half-sister o' mine,

Had married my butty,' a proper young chap!
Who'd died in a wastin' decline.

"He were wellish to do, owned a pony an' cart.
Just afore he knocked-up, poor old lad!
But, lor', when a hawker gets laid on his back
Things precious soon goes to the bad.

An' to pay for his grave, an' the coffin, an' black,
They'd to sell both his pony and cart;

Then the bisness went queer, and my sister, poor gal.
She died of a real broken heart.

"They put in the brokers for rent as were due,
An' they left her the walls an' the floor:
This comin' so soon arter losin' her Jim,

Crushed her heart, and she never spoke more.
I takes to the kid-she was then only seven-
An' I done. Bill, the best that I could:
What can a man do, sittywated like me.
Who is out all the day, if he would?

But a party who lived just a door or two off,
Was that kind, she quite took to the girl:
An' o' Saturday nights she would see her to bed
Arter putting her hair up in curl.

I heerd tell as how she'd been up in the world.
An' come down through misfortune, they said
But what did it matter, her heart was all right,
Though at times a bit queer in the head.

"An' while she were able to hobble about,
Like a mother she treated our kid;
But a fever broke out, an' with her went so hard,
That she died of a sudden-she did.
The day she was buried poor Nancy took bad,
But, lor', how she stood it-the sweet!

We could not persuade her to eat or to drink,
An' like ice were her poor little feet.

Her lips went all dry, an' her tongue became parched,
An' she wandered, an' talked about heaven,
An' angels, an' sitch like, quite wonderful, Bill,
For a child as had only turned seven!
And-well, I got home, Bill, one night arter dark,
And took hold of her mite of a hand,

Which, through bein' so ill, were as siender an' white
As any fine girl's in the land.

"I leaned on my elbow, an' looked in her face,
An' wiped the cold drops from her brow,
When the lids of her eyes both closed as in sleep,
An' she whispered Dad, I'm comin now.'

I was cut to the heart, for I loved her, old man,
An' my brain seemed to turn in my head;

I fell down on the floor, an' when I'd come round
'Twas all over, poor Nancy was dead!

"There was not a soul, Bill, my troubles to share As I gazed on the beautiful dead;

I had not a shillin' to buy her a grave,

All had gone to provide us with bread.
So, glad for a time such a scene to shake off,

I crossed slow from the corp se to the door,

I opened it softly, an' staggerin' went

6.

To the Fleece, where I fell on the floor.

My senses had gone, I was ravin' for days,
My life, Bill, they scarcely could save;

An' while I was down, Bill, they buried my Nance,
An' they can't even show me her grave!
I've made from the hedgerows this posy of flowers
To lay on the newly-made mound,

But the graves of the poor are all so much alike
Poor Nancy's can never be found."

LOUIS NAPOLEON.

(BORN 16th MARCH, 1856; DIED 1st JUNE, 1879.)

HUSH, Friend and Foe! No more his name
Shall raise a thought of France's shame
Or patriots fret,

Nor shall he shine, a wandering star,
To guide the hopes of friends afar-
That star has set!

Launched on a sunlit ocean's breast,
The zephyrs curl no wavelet's crest--
On speeds the barque.
Adrift too soon on stormy sea,
Black rise the billows on the lee :
The night grows dark.

Safe moored awhile 'neath alien skies,
In friendly port the frail craft lies
With flapping sail;

Then speeds once more across the main,
And dares the billows yet again
And courts the gale.

O loving eyes that from the shore
Scan the wild waste of waters o'er.
God help thee now?
The barque that sped long leagues away
On barbarous coasts lies wrecked to-day-
Wrecked keel and prow.

Hush, Friend and Foe! and let two lands,
Sisters in sorrow, link their hands

Across his grave.
Forget all else, O France, to-day,
Save that the exile far away

Was young and brave.

G. R. SIMS in One and Al..